C'tee okays PM portfolio changes amid war rumors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post August 27, 2012 - 12:00am A special committee has given its initial approval for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to make changes to his foreign and domestic investment portfolio, amid increased speculation in recent weeks that Israel is considering a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, a move that would certainly send shockwaves throughout the global economy. » Read more

Israel, U.S. divided over latest IAEA report on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - August 26, 2012 - 12:00am Israel and the United States are split over the significance of a new International Atomic Energy Agency report expected to accuse Iran of installing hundreds of new centrifuges at its underground enrichment facility near Qom. Israel believes that the IAEA report, due to be published this week, backs up claims that Tehran has accelerated its nuclear project. The White House, however, insists that the findings do nothing to alter the working assumption that there is still time to resolve the crisis diplomatically. » Read more

Sources: PA Attorney General resigns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority Attorney-General Ahmad al-Mughni resigned his position on Saturday morning, informed sources told Ma'an. The sources said al-Mughni handed in his notice after meeting with a former US State Attorney in Ramallah, without elaborating on the content of the meeting. Al-Mughni could not be reached for confirmation. Earlier this year, Ma'an revealed the attorney-general was forcing private Internet companies to block access to websites loyal to ousted Fatah leader Muhammad Dahlan. » Read more

Official: Qatar to open office to oversee Gaza reconstruction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Qatar will open an office in Gaza to oversee its reconstruction projects in the enclave, an official in Gaza said Friday. Minister of Public Works and Housing Yousif al-Mansi said a Qatari delegation had agreed to start the first phase of a $224 million project during a visit to Gaza in June. "We're waiting for the delegation to come back in the next week or two to open a Qatari office in Gaza to start signing contracts and start the reconstruction projects," al-Mansi told Ma'an. » Read more

Report: Fayyad seeks advice from Bank of Israel governor ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad met with the Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer last Friday in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Monday. Hebrew-language news site Maariv said that the meeting came at Fayyad’s request, and he was seeking advice on future economic steps. The officials, who worked together at the International Monetary Fund in the 1990s, met at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem, the report said. Fischer’s office confirmed that he met with Fayyad, but they gave no further details. » Read more

Israel closes key Jerusalem checkpoint, limiting Palestinian residents' access ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Oz Rosenberg - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am The Defense Ministry is planning to seal up the Ras Khamis checkpoint, one of the only two exits into Israel for the 65,000 Palestinian residents of the Shoafat refugee camp in northeast Jerusalem. The Palestinian, who are considered residents of Jerusalem, can now enter Israel only through the Shoafat central checkpoint, severely limiting their access to the city. » Read more

Sources: Iran was forced to withdraw Khamenei invite to Haniyeh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Informed sources told Ma'an on Monday that Iran's Supreme Leader had asked Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh to the Non-Aligned summit in Tehran, but Iran was later forced to withdraw the invitation. Haniyeh announced the invitation on Friday, drawing ire from West Bank officials who said President Mahmoud Abbas would pull out if the Hamas premier attended. An Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman later said only Abbas had been invited to represent Palestine. Haniyeh then insisted he had declined the invitation, citing Palestinian unity. » Read more

Gaza Hamas premier drops plan to go to Iran summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am A Hamas official says Gaza's Hamas prime minister has dropped plans to attend this week's summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran. The prospect of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh attending the summit elicited an angry response from the rival Palestinian government in the West Bank. Its foreign minister, Riad Malki, warned he would pull out of the summit and urge other nations to do the same if Haniyeh showed up. » Read more

Egypt: 76 convicted for attack on Israeli Embassy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am A Cairo court has convicted 76 Egyptians on charges linked to last year's attack by protesters on the Israeli Embassy. Seventy-five of the defendants received suspended one-year sentences Sunday, while one defendant tried in absentia was given a five-year prison term. The court listed eight charges, including "an assault against diplomatic missions" and "sabotage." » Read more

Israeli police arrest suspects in firebomb attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli police say they have arrested three Jewish youths from a West Bank settlement as suspects in firebomb attack that wounded six Palestinians in a taxi. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Sunday the three suspects were minors, aged 12-13. They will appear in a Jerusalem court to face charges. The attack 10 days ago targeted a taxi driving in the West Bank. A firebomb struck the vehicle, injuring the six people inside, one seriously. The military suspected Jewish extremists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the firebombing. » Read more